Banjaru residents glad to greet DC

About 40 families of the Malekudiya tribe in Banjarumale in Neriya village of Belthangady taluk on the Western Ghats had a pleasant surprise on Thursday when the Deputy Commissioner (DC) came calling on them.

With DC A.B. Ibrahim inaugurating the DC Katte, the three-decade’ wait of villagers came to an end. The Katte was built about 32 years ago in anticipation of the visit of the then Dakshina Kannada DC.

The plight of residents of Banjarumale, who are forced trek about 9 km within a private estate to reach their habitat, has been highlighted in different media over the years, but the administration had not paid attention to their woes. The habitat neither has a motorable road nor electricity connection. But they have a hydro-electric power project of their own.

Mr. Ibrahim promised that the administration would persuade the estate owner to allow construction of a

pucca road to the habitat even as he directed Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) officials to provide electricity within a year. He also directed the officials concerned to arrange payment to the Anganwadi assistant, who was appointed by the chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat about six months ago.

Mr. Ibrahim was surprised to see water seeping through the roof of the community hall in the habitat and directed the official concerned to immediately get it repaired. Woes of residents about non-sanction of below poverty line ration cards too would be addressed, he said.

When scheduled tribe welfare officer told the DC that each Malekudiya family was being given 15 kg rice, 2 kg toor dal, 1 litre palm oil, 1 kg green gram and 30 eggs every month for six months every year, the residents said they had to travel 40 km to Gandibagilu to get these supplies. Mr. Ibrahim directed the official to supply the commodities at Banjaru Anganwadi from next month.